The 'true' human experience


I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be human, perhaps because it is the cycle of the year. I’m currently reading both “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman and “Think Again” by Adam Grant, plus my previous reading of Oliver Burkman’s “Four Thousand Weeks” - all of which point to a world where there are fewer stressors and more control of one’s existence. Control here however doesn’t mean deciding what happens day-to-day but deciding on a pathway, such as Buddhism, and letting the universe guide you and choose those day-to-day activities.

Coming from a modern perspective, this all seems rather scary, but even as recently as the pre-industrial revolution humans have been mostly living what we would now call a monastic-lite lifestyle. It’s not feasible for someone in the modern world to completely adopt the fully realised, head-shaved life of a monk, but we can learn a lot if we study carefully. The main issue is that the tempo of modern life rarely allows for pause, let alone reflection. In a world built on hustle and hyperconnectivity, the idea of a Buddhist monk—a figure of quiet contemplation and unwavering presence—feels almost alien.

It’s easy to romanticise this way of life—no endless scroll. There is no existential dread over unread Slack messages. Just stillness, clarity, and a direct connection to something greater than the sum of our notifications. It’s tempting to think this must be the pinnacle of what it means to be human.

A monastic lifestyle represents something we’re all quietly craving: simplicity. Monks strip life back to its essentials, focusing on mindfulness, detachment, and a profound understanding of existence. There’s no FOMO when you’ve consciously opted out of the race. There’s no chasing after what’s next, no attachment to what was, and no letting life take the path it needs you to be on.


What we can’t do is apply this to everyone in the world, everything falls apart if we all become Buddhist monks tomorrow; not everyone wants that lifestyle. What monks do is undeniably powerful, but is it the only way to live authentically? For most of us, life doesn’t look like a monastery and that’s okay.

What makes the monk’s life resonate isn’t the robes or the rituals. It’s the intentionality. The choice to be present, to live with purpose rather than be dragged along by the current; is something we can all integrate into our lives, no matter how tangled they feel.

I’m starting to take a breath before opening my inbox, savouring my morning coffee instead of chugging it on the way to a meeting. One big thing is to take walks- even driving without a podcast or music, just listening and paying attention to the real world around me. These small acts of awareness are not a rejection of modern life but a way to reclaim humanity within it.

So, is the life of a Buddhist monk the only true human experience? It’s undoubtedly a powerful one. But it’s not the only one. Life’s richness lies in its diversity—in the countless ways people create, connect, and find meaning. The challenge isn’t to abandon the world but to engage with it more deliberately. True human experience isn’t about where you are; it’s about how you are—awake, aware, and fully alive.